SPRING ARBOR, Mich. — The No. 10 Bethel Pilots (20-7, 13-4) lost to the Spring Arbor Cougars (18-9, 10-7) after losing a 41-37 halftime lead and 9-29 (31%) from the floor to leave the McDonald Athletic Center with a 79-72 loss.
The Pilots shot 48% from the floor and 5-12 (41%) from beyond the arc in the first half, but the Cougar defense intensified in the second half, keeping Bethel to only 2-9 from deep and 31% from the floor.
Off the boards, Bethel had 10 offensive rebounds to the Cougars’ six but were outpaced 30-24 off the defensive glass.
Alonas Peciulis went 4-10 from the field and 2-5 from three-point range for 16 points and a perfect 6-6 from the charity stripe. Peciulis had eight rebounds, close to a double-double.
Trent Edwards shot 6-13 from the floor and 1-2 from the free-throw line for 13 points, six rebounds and three assists. Preston Phillips went 4-8 and 3-5 from deep for 13 points with six rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Luke McBride dropped 11 points on 5-15 shooting from the floor and was held to 1-7 from beyond the arc and three rebounds.
Bethel started the game in the lead 10-7 at 15:24 when Phillips dropped a three at 15:12 (13-7), followed by Peciulis’ triple at 13:50, 16-9 BU.
The Cougars scrapped to get within two points of the Pilots at 9:07 from a three by Shane Rykse 22-20.
Bethel gained ground again to pull away to a 31-25 lead with Peciulis splashing a deep ball at 5:39, but SAU kept within reach after Gabe Newhof put through two at the line at 2:14 to go in the half.
Spring Arbor was down 39-37 with 1:23 left in the first half, but Phillips had the final word with a two before the buzzer, going into halftime up 41-37.
Newhof completed the three-point play at 19:04, followed by Dante Favor making two free throws at 18:12 to give SAU their first lead since the first bucket of the game at 19:19.
Trent Edwards hit a two at 12:03 to keep Bethel within three points (55-52), then Jameir Jefferson split the pair at the charity stripe at 9:54, 57-55.
The Cougars grew to a six-point lead from a two by Kevyn Robertson at 6:27 (66-60) and would maintain advantage into the final minute of the game.
Bethel was down 74-70 with 54 seconds to go when Phillips split the pair at the line, but SAU kept the separation with free throws in the final seconds to defeat Bethel 79-72.
The Pilots return to the Gates Gymnasium on Saturday, Feb. 22, for Senior Day against Taylor, with tip-off scheduled for 3 p.m.
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